-- Grace Elizabeth --

Thursday, September 30, 2010

I was excited to see this as a book we could review since I love "saving money". Thank you Thomas Nelson for this insightful book to read and review.I lost my job last year when the Christian Book store I worked for closed. That put a whole new outlook on how to shop and save money. I started coupon clipping and that was a wonderful cost cutting measure. Now, that everyone is doing it, the coupon world has changed. That is why this book is so valuable. It showed me ways to cut costs and eat healthy without clipping coupons. My favorite chapter was -Cooking That Will Save You Time, Money, and Sanity. There are tons of ideas from buying in bulk, once a month cooking, make haste not waste and how to stretch cooking and leftovers. There is also a chapter for organizing and stockpiling which is very helpful in saving money. I learned new tips on how easy it is to freeze things I did not know you could freeze. Another fun chapter is on Money Saving Tools-great tips on time savers from pots and pans to slow cookers. In each chapter there are tips from ladies all over the U.S. which are interesting. The extra bonus is recipes in the back which I can't wait to try. This is a wonderful informative book-great for singles, newlyweds, and empty nesters. We all want to save money and the Economides have really nailed how to do it.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

This is a hard review to write because I usually LOVE Christian Fiction books, but this book by T.L. Hines left me glad I did not pay for this book. Thank you Thomas Nelson for this free book for my honest opinion and review. Dylan Runs Ahead has been running from his calling, his troubles, and his demons. His demons just caught up. That really sounds like an interesting plot so I tried, really tried to read this book. Dylan is a former soldier who turns into a drug addict after being wounded in Iraq. The story revolves around a drug bust gone bad and his running from that problem. Enter Quinn who is "chosen" and trying to save Dylan and his calling. That is about the only thing I really understood. The story jumped around too much in time and the characters. I had trouble figuring what was going on. I read to page 162 and then skipped to last chapter (never do that) to end this misery and put it to rest. I thought it would be good but it was hard to pick up and keep reading. I also did not enjoy the aspects of self mutilating behaviors and OCD to deal with pain and tension. I have two other T.L. Hines books in my bookcase-hope they are better than this one

Friday, September 10, 2010

I am reviewing Max Lucado's newest book Out Live Your Life which I received from Thomas Nelson for my honest review of this book. What a joy to read Max!!!. He is such a gifted storyteller that always packs a punch. This book especially made me examine myself and see if I was making a difference in this difficult time. His chapter of Stand Up for the Have-Not's was humbling ,for sure. There are great organizations like World Vision, Compassion International that are trying to help the poor. Poverty is not the lack of charity but the lack of justice. Again, no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. What a call to action but how do we start--get out of our comfort zones is a great way to begin. It all boils down to-none of us can help everyone but all of us can help someone. And when we help them, we serve Jesus. Do we really want to miss a chance to do that? This is a book to read, digest, read, digest and re-read again. Absolutely loved the scripture and prayers at the end of each chapter. There is also included in the back a discussion and action guide for each chapter. Great for small groups to do or individually but adresses just how to put what Max has written into action. That is a huge help. Max is my favorite author and consider it a privilege to read and blog about his books. Can't wait for his next one but for now I will be trying to" Out Live My Life".

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Thank you Thomas Nelson for another wonderful book from Booksneeze. I absolutely love Andy Andrews and his writing. I have read everything by him and was so excited to see a new one to read. This is in the form of a gift book which is good but I wanted a bigger book and that was the only downfall I could come up with. He wrote some simple truths which we all know--you have been created to make a difference, you have the power to change the world, you have been created as one of a kind and what you do does matter. So simple yet so hard to believe and put into motion. Great stories throughout the book which were so interesting and inspiring. This is one of those books that you start and finish in one sitting-it's that good. It is also one of those books you keep thinking about after you have read it ( all his books are like that). The book made me look inside myself to see if I really am making a difference or just taking up space and how I can change myself. This was my favorite quote from the book "There are generations yet unborn whose very lives will be shifted and shaped by the moves you make and the actions you take today. And tomorrow. And the next day. And the next". Our lives do matter-forever. Superb book to read, pass on. read again and pass on.

About Me

I am the mother of two children, a daughter and son. My daughter is 1st LT. in the Army. She recently married My son is married and now I have one 7 year old granddaughter,Grace, and a new step granddaughter Kearstan. I also have 2 more step-grandchildren I have been married for 42 years. I retired from a local Christian book store where I was the book buyer. My passion has been reading and selling books to wonderful customers for the last 14 years and I am thankful to God that I was able to do that for so long. I love my church-Faith Church in Lafayette, Indiana and enjoy serving there in various ministries.